Shopify vs Clickfunnels: Which is the Ultimate Tool for Your Online Store?
By Sam Nguyen
In this blog post, we’ll dive into a comprehensive comparison between Shopify vs Clickfunnels, two powerful e-commerce platforms. We’ll explore their features, strengths, and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision on the best platform for your online store or sales funnels.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify is best for aspiring e-commerce entrepreneurs and existing business owners looking for a robust and customizable platform to build and scale their online store.
- Clickfunnels is best for digital marketing professionals seeking a specialized platform for creating high-converting sales funnels and optimizing customer journeys.
Shopify vs Clickfunnels: The key difference
When it comes to the nature and direction of development, Shopify and Clickfunnels display distinct approaches that set them apart from each other.
Shopify takes a comprehensive approach, providing entrepreneurs with the tools to build and scale online business. It offers customizable themes and apps to create unique brand experiences. Meanwhile, Clickfunnels specializes in creating high-converting sales funnels and optimizing customer journeys with unlimited funnels. With a streamlined interface and marketing automation tools, it helps digital marketers craft effective sales processes.
Not only that, Shopify’s platform continuously evolves, introducing new features to meet industry demands. Its focus on versatility makes it the go-to platform for establishing and expanding its online business. On the other hand, Clickfunnels’ development direction centers on refining and enhancing its capabilities for a sales funnel builder as you. It is the platform of choice for those seeking specialized solutions to maximize sales and marketing efforts.
Overall, while Shopify concentrates on the overall e-commerce experience and empowering businesses to thrive online, Clickfunnels hones in on the sales funnel creation and optimization process, making it a more focused and specialized platform in that regard for building sales funnels in an easier way..
Shopify vs Clickfunnels: Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons of Shopify
Pros
- Comprehensive e-commerce platform
- Wide range of sales and marketing tools
- Strong inventory management system
- Scalability and flexibility
- User-friendly interface
- Intuitive design
- Extensive help and support options with various payment gateways
- Strong security measures
- Vast collection of customizable themes
Cons
- Transaction fees on third-party of multiple payment gateways
Pros and Cons of Clickfunnels
Pros
- Specialized in creating high-converting sales
- Streamlined interface
- Intuitive funnel-building process
- Dedicated tools and features for funnel creation and optimization
- Integration options with other platforms
Cons
- Limited in terms of comprehensive e-commerce functionality
- Limitations of support channels
- Requirement of a learning curve for beginners
- A limited selection of themes
Shopify vs Clickfunnels: In-depth Comparison
Pricing
Shopify
Subscription fees
Shopify offers various subscription plans, starting at $5 to $399 per month. Each plan provides a different level of features and support. Of course, the more expensive it is, the more advanced features it has.
You can click here to enjoy Shopify’s powerful platform free for three days, then continue shaping your dream business for just $1 a month for the first three months. This means Shopify lets new merchants to grab a chance to unleash your potential, no strings attached!
Transaction fees
Shopify charges transaction fees on each sale made through third-party payment gateways. The transaction fees range from 0.5% to 2% per transaction, depending on the plan chosen. However, if you use Shopify Payments as your payment gateway, transaction fees can be avoided. Besides the transaction fees, whether you use Shopify Payments or not, you still have to pay 2.4% to 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction for the credit card rates.
Additional fees
In addition to subscription and transaction fees, there may be additional fees related to add-ons and apps available on the Shopify App Store. These fees vary depending on the specific add-ons or apps you choose to enhance your store’s functionality. Payment gateway fees may also apply if you opt for a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments.
Clickfunnels
Subscription fees
Clickfunnels offers 3 main subscription options: Basic, Pro and Funnel Hacker, with the pricing ranging from $147 to $297 per month. With this price, Clickfunnels is clearly more expensive than the upfront fees of Shopify POS.
Transaction fees
Clickfunnels charges 4.9% transaction fees on your sales in addition to your credit card transaction fees and monthly plan. It’s way more expensive than Shopify!
Additional fees
Clickfunnels’ pricing includes most features, so there are typically no additional fees beyond the chosen subscription plan. However, it’s worth noting that if you integrate external services or tools with Clickfunnels, there may be separate costs associated with those integrations.
Table comparison in terms of overall pricing
| Shopify | Clickfunnels | |
| Subscription | $5 – $399 per month | $127 – $208 per month |
| Transaction fees | 0.5 – 2% (avoidable) 2.4%–2.6% + $0.3 | 4.9% |
| Additional fees | Add-ons, apps, themes and payment gateway fees | Separate costs associated with external integrations and tools. |
The Verdict
Shopify emerges as the winner for businesses with high volumes due to its potentially lower subscription fees.
Sales & Marketing Features
Shipping And Fulfillment
Shopify provides a robust shipping and fulfillment system, allowing you to integrate with major shipping carriers and calculate shipping rates automatically. It also offers features like order tracking and notifications to keep customers informed and develop sales pages.
On the other hand, Clickfunnels focuses more on digital products and sales funnels. Hence, its shipping and fulfillment capabilities are more limited, requiring integration with a third-party shipping provider. However, note that there is only a handful of shipping providers available on Clickfunnels.
Inventory Management
Shopify excels in inventory management, offering advanced features to track and manage stock levels, set up variants and options to sell products and receive notifications when inventory is running low. This makes it ideal for businesses with complex inventory needs.
While Clickfunnels does have basic inventory management features, they are not as comprehensive and intuitive as Shopify’s. Still, Clickfunnels’ primary focus is creating sales funnels rather than extensive inventory management.
Order Management
Shopify provides a robust inventory management system, allowing you to process orders, manage refunds and returns, and handle customer inquiries efficiently for your sales pages. It offers a centralized dashboard to view and fulfill orders, making it easy to stay organized.
Clickfunnels, on the other hand, primarily focuses on capturing leads and driving conversions through marketing and sales funnels, so its order management capabilities are more limited in comparison. Clickfunnels’ strength lies in guiding customers through the funnel rather than extensive order management.
Payment Gateway
Both Shopify and Clickfunnels support multiple payment gateways, allowing you to offer a variety of payment options to customers. Shopify even has its own gateway — Shopify Payments — a notable feature that provides a seamless payment experience with reduced transaction fees.
Clickfunnels integrates with several popular payment gateways as well, but the number is pretty limited and it doesn’t have its own native payment solution for your ecommerce store.
SEO & content marketing
Shopify provides a solid foundation for SEO and content marketing. It offers customizable URL structures, landing pages, meta tags, and sitemaps, making it easier for search engines to crawl and rank your store. Additionally, Shopify allows you to create and manage a blog, enabling content marketing efforts, to develop marketing and sales funnels of your own business.
Clickfunnels, meanwhile, is more focused on creating high-converting sales funnels rather than extensive SEO, content marketing capabilities and marketing tools.
Reporting and Analytics
Shopify offers comprehensive reporting and analytics tools, providing insights into sales, customer behavior, and marketing performance. You can track key metrics, set up custom reports, and integrate with Google Analytics for deeper analysis.
Clickfunnels also provides basic analytics, including integration with Google Analytics, to monitor funnel performance and conversion rates. However, Shopify’s reporting and analytics features are generally more extensive and detailed
Automated Email Marketing
Both Shopify and Clickfunnels offer automated email marketing capabilities. Shopify provides built-in email marketing features with its Shopify Email tool, allowing you to send customized different email marketing campaigns and automation.
Clickfunnels also offers email marketing automation through integrations with popular email service providers. The key difference is Clickfunnels places more emphasis on email marketing within the context of sales funnels and conversions.
Customer Relationship Management
Shopify provides basic customer relationship management (CRM) features, allowing you to manage customer profiles, order history, and contact information. It integrates with popular customer management system for more advanced functionality.
Clickfunnels focuses on lead management within the context of sales funnels, providing tools to capture and nurture leads throughout the funnel process. However, Clickfunnels’ CRM capabilities are more limited compared to dedicated CRM platforms.
Overall, the unique and defining features of Clickfunnels is its emphasis on creating high-converting sales funnels. Clickfunnels provides a visual drag-and-drop funnel builder, allowing you to create multi-step sales processes tailored to each type of your business.
Meanwhile, Shopify focuses on taking good care of your businesses by providing tools to create the best ecommerce business.
- Multi-channel Selling: With Shopify, sellers can easily expand their reach by selling on multiple channels, including social media platforms and online marketplaces like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and eBay. This feature allows them to diversify their sales channels, tap into wider audiences, and increase brand visibility.
- Product Reviews and Ratings: Shopify includes a product reviews and ratings feature that allows customers to leave feedback on products they have purchased. It enhances trust and credibility, helping build a strong online reputation and increase customer confidence in products.
The Verdict
Shopify is the winner in terms of sales features and marketing tools as it is more well-rounded.
Load Speed
To compare the load speed of Shopify and ClickFunnels 2.0, we looked at a series of tests conducted using identical pages built on both platforms. In these tests, ClickFunnels 2.0 consistently outperformed Shopify and other competitors like Kajabi, Kartra, Keep, and Leadpages. The results demonstrated ClickFunnels 2.0’s ability to deliver faster page load times, ensuring a smoother user experience and potentially higher conversion rates.
The Verdict
In terms of load speed, ClickFunnels 2.0 holds an advantage due to its dedicated efforts in optimizing speed.
Apps and Integrations
Shopify
Shopify offers a vast selection of apps and integrations through its Shopify App Store (with over 8,000 apps through Shopify App Store). Sellers have access to a wide range of apps that enhance various aspects of their online store builder, such as marketing, inventory management, customer support, and more. Additionally, Shopify can integrate with Clickfunnels and other platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc.), allowing sellers to leverage the best features from multiple providers and switch if needed.
Clickfunnels
Clickfunnels is integrated with a variety of apps such as Google Sheets, Gmail, Discord, Monday, Shopify, etc. But it has a more limited selection of apps and integrations compared to Shopify. While it integrates with some popular third-party tools, it may not have the same extensive ecosystem of apps and integrations available for online store builder. This can be a limitation for sellers who require specific integrations or a wider range of app choices, also for online sales purposes.
The Verdict
Shopify takes the lead due to its robust app store and ability to seamlessly integrate with various tools and platforms, including Clickfunnels.
Ease of Use
Shopify
Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design. It provides a simple setup process, making it accessible even to beginners. The platform offers drag-and-drop website building, easy product management, and straightforward order fulfillment. With extensive documentation and customer support, we can say that Shopify prioritizes ease of use for sellers.
Clickfunnels
Clickfunnels is designed to streamline the process of creating sales funnel, offering a user-friendly interface for building and optimizing funnels. While it may be relatively easy to use for individuals familiar with funnel creation, it may require a learning curve for those new to the concept.
The Verdict
Shopify wins as it is a highly accessible platform for sellers of all levels of experience.
Scalability
Shopify
As a business scales up, Shopify offers various tools and features to support growth. Sellers can easily upgrade their pricing package to unlock additional resources, such as increased storage capacity, bandwidth, and more advanced functionalities. Shopify’s infrastructure is designed to handle high traffic and accommodate growing businesses seamlessly.
Clickfunnels
ClickFunnels’ scalability is variable, based on user traffic, functional needs, and operational and financial requirements. But while sufficient for small to medium businesses, it may lack the customization and complexity needed for larger organizations. According to some customers, some elements of Clickfunnels are still grouped for all accounts, so that it becomes difficult to scale for exemple an ad agency with multiple clients.
The Verdict
In terms of scalability, Shopify emerges as the winner due to its dedicated resources, flexible pricing packages, and ability to accommodate the needs of growing businesses.
Help and Support
Shopify
Shopify provides robust support channels, including 24/7 live chat, phone support, and email support. The Shopify Help Center offers extensive documentation, guides, and tutorials to assist sellers with various aspects of their store setup and management. Additionally, Shopify has an active community forum and dedicated support agents who respond promptly to inquiries.
Clickfunnels
Clickfunnels offers support through its Help Center, which includes documentation, video tutorials, and an active user community. Support through live chat, email or telephone is also available with Clickfunnels.
However, it’s necessary to note that the support channels of Clickfunnels plan don’t also give you 24-hour support. They are active just from Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm (EST).
The Verdict
Shopify takes the lead in terms of help and support by providing round-the-clock support channels, comprehensive documentation, and a responsive customer service team.
Security
Shopify
Shopify prioritizes security measures to protect both sellers and customers. It provides secure hosting with SSL certificates, ensuring encrypted data transmission. Shopify is Level 1 PCI DSS compliant, adhering to strict security standards. It also offers fraud analysis tools, automatic backups, and a team dedicated to monitoring and addressing security concerns.
Clickfunnels
Clickfunnels also implements security measures such as SSL encryption for secure data transmission. This allows you to encrypt information between the client and the server, ensuring that your business-related input won’t be deleted due to a security breach.
Besides, its payment methods are also encrypted with improved SSL protocols, and integrated with several secure payment gateways such as NMI, EasyPayDirect and Keap. Clickfunnels is also PCI/DSS compliant and is able to process secure payments for you and your clients. However, it’s not recorded that Clickfunnels has a team to support business owners and clients of security problems.
The Verdict
Shopify demonstrates stronger security measures and compliance with industry standards and supporting service, making it the more potential choice for businesses looking for robust security features.
Themes and Designs
Shopify
Shopify has an advantage over theme choice as it is the biggest ecommerce platform these days. Shopify provides a vast collection of 112+ professionally designed themes in the Shopify Theme Store and thousands of third-party themes that cater to various industries and aesthetics. These themes are customizable, allowing sellers to personalize the look, to create the most suitable landing pages and feel of their online stores. With responsive designs and mobile optimization, Shopify themes can create opt-in pages, providing an excellent user experience across devices.
Clickfunnels
Clickfunnels, a less famous platform than Shopify, offers a more limited selection of themes for the ecommerce platform (nearly 100 funnel templates). Also, as it is not widely used as Shopify, third-party theme providers may find it a less lucrative market to provide themes and design for landing pages there.
The Verdict
Shopify shines with its extensive selection of customizable themes designed specifically for e-commerce and creating landing pages.
Shopify vs Clickfunnels: Table Comparison
| Criteria | Shopify | Clickfunnels | Winner |
| Pricing | Subscription fees start at $5 to $399 per month. Transaction fees from 0.5 2%; credit card rates: 2.4% – 2.6% + 30 cents per transaction. | Subscription fees: $147 to $297 per month. Transaction fees: 4.9% on your sales. | Shopify |
| Sale & Marketing Features | Comprehensive e-commerce solution with special features like abandoned cart recovery, multi-channel selling, discount codes, product reviews, and product variants. | Emphasis on creating high-converting sales funnel with a visual drag-and-drop funnel builder. | Shopify |
| Load Speed | 5.0 seconds | 1.2 seconds | ClickFunnels |
| Apps and Integrations | Vast selection of apps and integrations through its Shopify App Store (with over 8.000 apps). | More limited selection of apps and integrations compared to Shopify. | Shopify |
| Ease of use | Simple setup process, drag-and-drop website building, easy product management, and straightforward order fulfillment. | User-friendly interface but sometimes requirement of a learning curve for those new to the concept. | Shopify |
| Scalability | Various tools and features to support growth such as increased storage capacity, bandwidth, and more advanced functionalities. | Variable but may lack the customization and complexity needed for larger organizations. | Shopify |
| Help and Support | Robust support channels, including 24/7 live chat, phone support, and email support. | Support through their Help Center, livechat, e-mail and telephone but not 24-hour support. | Shopify |
| Security | SSL certificates and Level 1 PCI/ DSS compliant; a supporting team for security. | SSL encryption, payment methods with SSL protocols, PCI/DSS compliant. Not a team to support security. | Shopify |
| Themes and Designs | Vast collection of professionally designed themes with a number of 112, easy to create landing pages | More limited selection of themes compared to Shopify. | Shopify |
Overall Winner: Shopify
When considering the comprehensive criteria of pricing, sales and marketing features, load speed, apps and integrations, ease-of-use, scalability, help & support, security, and themes and designs, Shopify emerges as the clear winner among the two platforms.
Shopify offers flexible pricing plans, transaction fees that can be avoided with Shopify Payments, and a wide range of sales and marketing features for building and scaling online store. In terms of load speed, Shopify prioritizes fast and seamless browsing experiences, ensuring customers won’t be deterred by slow-loading pages.
In terms of apps and integrations, Shopify boasts an extensive app store, allowing sellers to customize their stores and integrate with various third-party tools. Additionally, Shopify’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive support channels, including 24/7 live chat and phone support, provide excellent help and support options for sellers.
With its secure hosting, SSL encryption, and compliance with industry standards, Shopify prioritizes the security of seller and customer data. Furthermore, Shopify’s vast collection of customizable themes ensures a visually appealing and user-friendly online store.
Overall, Shopify’s competitive key features make it the superior choice for businesses looking for a comprehensive and reliable e-commerce solution.
Who should use Shopify? And who should use Clickfunnels?
Who should use Shopify?
Shopify is ideal for aspiring e-commerce entrepreneurs and existing business owners looking to establish and scale their online store. It caters to a wide range of industries:
- Retail and E-commerce businesses
- Fashion and Apparel industry
- Beauty and Cosmetics brands
- Electronics and Technology retailers
- Home Goods and Furniture stores
- Artisanal and Handcrafted product sellers
- Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
And who should use Clickfunnels?
Clickfunnels is ideal for digital marketing professionals and online business owners who want to optimize their sales funnel and drive conversions.
- Digital Marketers and Online Marketing Professionals
- Sales Funnel Designers and Optimizers
- Online Coaches and Course Creators
- Affiliate Marketers
- E-book and Information Product Sellers
- Membership Site Owners
- Event and Webinar Organizers
- Online Service Providers (Consultants, Freelancers, etc.)
FAQs: Shopify vs Clickfunnels
Shopify is often the preferred choice for businesses seeking a full-fledged online store, while Clickfunnels is ideal for those solely focused on sales funnel optimization.
The main difference lies in their core functionalities. Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform, providing features for building online store, managing inventory, and processing orders. Clickfunnels specializes in creating sales funnel to optimize conversions. Both platforms have some overlapping features, but their main emphasis and target audience differ for perfect online store builder.
Yes, Clickfunnels can integrate with Shopify. This integration allows businesses to combine the strengths of both platforms. Users can design sales funnel in Clickfunnels and connect them seamlessly with their Shopify store. It provides a comprehensive solution, leveraging Clickfunnels’ powerful funnel creation features within the context of a Shopify-powered online store.
Shopify has a significant market share in the e-commerce platform industry, being one of the leading solutions globally. Clickfunnels, while catering to a niche market, has a smaller market share compared to Shopify. Shopify’s wider customer base and versatility as a complete online store solution contribute to its larger market presence.
Shopify vs Clickfunnels: Conclusion
Shopify and Clickfunnels are both powerful platforms with unique strengths and target audiences. Shining as a comprehensive e-commerce solution, offering scalability, extensive sales and marketing features, and a user-friendly interface for a successful online store, Shopify is the overall winner in this comparison. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on individual business needs, goals, and priorities.
